-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Whether he is predicting the demise of the U.S. `` empire , '' questioning U.S. accounts of the 9/11 attacks or accusing Europe of using the Holocaust as an excuse for supporting Israel , Mahmoud Ahmadinejad knows how to push the West 's buttons at the U.N. General Assembly .

For the third straight year , U.S. diplomats on Thursday joined envoys from several other nations in walking out during the Iranian president 's address at the annual United Nations gathering in New York . That does n't even count instances before that , when American diplomats conspicuously skipped his speech altogether .

This year , Ahmadinejad said European countries `` still use the Holocaust after six decades as the excuse to pay -LRB- a -RRB- fine or ransom to the Zionists , '' and that the United States killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden instead of investigating `` hidden elements involved in September 11 . ''

Susan Rice , U.S. ambassador to the United Nations , was n't impressed .

`` We find what Ahmadinejad does and says when he comes to the United Nations absolutely odious , hateful , anti-Semitic , unacceptable , which is why the United States for three consecutive years -- including today -- have led a walkout of his speech , '' Rice told CNN 's Wolf Blitzer on Thursday . `` Inevitably he says something outrageous , dishonest and offensive , and that leads to a walkout . ''

Here is a look back at Ahmadinejad 's other U.N. speeches , and reactions to them :

2010

Representatives from the United States , Britain , Spain and other nations walked out while Ahmadinejad asserted that the U.S. government either participated in the 9/11 attacks or let them happen as an excuse to wage war in Iraq and Afghanistan .

He said most Americans and `` most nations around the world '' believe that `` some segments within the U.S. government orchestrated the attack , '' adding that these people believe the attacks were aimed at reversing `` the declining American economy and its scripts on the Middle East in order to save the Zionist regime . ''

He also said capitalism and the current world order had reached their demise after 100 years of domination , saying that they were `` unable to provide appropriate solutions to the problems that society faces . ''

2009

In September 2009 , Ahmadinejad was critical of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan , where he said `` thousands of innocent people have been killed , injured or displaced , infrastructures have been destroyed and regional security has been seriously jeopardized . ''

He ripped capitalism , saying it brought about the conditions leading to the world 's economic crisis . He also called for a `` return to monotheism and justice , '' calling it `` the greatest hope and opportunity in all ages and generations . ''

He blasted Israel , accusing it of `` crimes ... against defenseless women and children and destruction of their homes , farms , hospitals and schools . ''

The next day , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the Iranian leader at the General Assembly . The delegations that stayed for Ahmadinejad 's address gave `` legitimacy to a man who denies the murder of 6 million Jews , '' Netanyahu said , referring to the Holocaust .

2008

Ahmadinejad told the General Assembly in 2008 that the `` American empire '' was nearing its end , and that Israel `` is on a definite slope to collapse . ''

While he stopped short of calling for Israel to be politically wiped off the map as he had previously , he called for `` a free referendum in Palestine for determining and establishing the type of state in the entire Palestinian lands . ''

The U.N. Security Council , he said , `` can not do anything , and sometimes under pressure from a few bullying powers , even paves the way for supporting these Zionist murders . ''

He blamed a few world powers for the world 's problems , and defended his country 's nuclear activities as peaceful . The U.S. and other Western nations had long suspected that Iran had been pursuing nuclear weapons , but Iran said it seeks only a civilian nuclear energy program .

He accused the United States of oppressing Iraqis with six years of occupation , saying Americans were `` still seeking to solidify their position in the political geography of the region and to dominate oil resources . ''

The only person at the United States ' table was a note-taker ; no U.S. diplomat was present .

2007

In a 2007 speech that blasted `` selfish and incompetent '' governments that have `` obedience to Satan , '' Ahmadinejad said the U.N. Security Council `` ranks first '' among ineffective international bodies because it is influenced by `` monopolistic powers . ''

Ahmadinejad invited `` all independent , justice-seeking and peace-loving nations '' to join Iran in a `` coalition for peace . '' He also criticized unnamed `` powers '' that he said were responsible for insecurity , division and moral decline across the world .

`` Is it not high time for these powers to return from the path of arrogance and obedience to Satan to the path of faith in God ? '' he said .

He criticized the United States without naming it , offering blunt assessments of the Iraq war and Washington 's war on terrorism .

`` Setting up secret prisons , abducting -LRB- people -RRB- , trials and secret punishments without any regard to due process , extensive tappings of telephone conversations , intercepting private mail and frequent summons to police and security centers have become commonplace and prevalent . ''

The American delegation 's chairs were unoccupied , except for one woman taking notes .

Earlier , he had asked to lay a wreath at the site of the destroyed World Trade Center towers , but New York City officials denied the request , citing safety concerns at what was then a construction site .

2006

Ahmadinejad said in 2006 that the United States ' permanent inclusion on the U.N. Security Council undermines its effectiveness and credibility .

He also criticized `` unwarranted support '' for Israel during conflicts in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon .

On Iraq , Ahmadinejad said the United States , whom he called `` the occupiers , '' is `` incapable of establishing security , '' and scores were dying daily as a result .

`` Where can the people of Iraq seek refuge , and from whom can the people of Iraq seek justice ? '' he asked . How can the Security Council act `` when the occupiers themselves are permanent members of the council ? ''

2005

Ahmadinejad in 2005 told the General Assembly that Iran had a right to operate a nuclear energy program . He said it was unfair that some nations were allowed to make nuclear fuel while others are condemned for it .

`` Today , the most serious challenges is that the culprits are assuming the role of prosecutor , '' he said , accusing the United States of `` bullying the others while through huge media resources portraying themselves as defenders of freedom . ''

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Sensational remarks are hallmark of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 's 7 U.N. addresses

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U.S. , other delegations walked out of Thursday 's speech , as has happened before

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U.S. , Israel , European powers and the United Nations are frequent targets of Ahmadinejad